Plumb and level



No. 753,551. I PATENTED MAR. 1,1904..

0-. H. CRAVEN.

PLUMB AND LEVEL. APPLIUATIOQN FILED. 001. 2a", 1903..

N0 MODEL.

7 UNITED I STAT s Patented March 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

PLuMB AND LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming pa rt of Letters Patent 1\l'0. v 7 53,551, dated March 1, 1904.

Application filed October 28, I903. Serial No. 178,894. (No model.) 7

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. CRAVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newcastle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImproVement in Plumbs and Levels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates especially to a level and plumb-line, the object of the invention being to protect the various parts of the level from injury, such as breakage of the spirittube glass, warping of the level, &c.

The invention consists of the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and shownin the accom panying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the level. Fig. 2 is an elevation, the level being arranged in a perpendicular position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spirit-tube and shield. Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3, the shield being in a closed position. Fig. 5 represents fragmentary detail sectional views of an end of the level.

In the drawings, Arepresents a level of the usual size and having the customary sights A, adapted to'fold down on the level in the usual manner.

B represents a pear-shaped opening through which the plumb-bob may be inspected.

At the longitudinal center of the level is formed an oval opening B, in which is longitudinally arranged the spirit-level C.

Adjacent the end of the level opposite the opening B is formed a verticallyarranged opening B having a straight perpendicular wall, and in this opening is secured a vertically-arranged spirit-level D, similar in construction to that at C, but at right angles to it.

At the end of the level opposite the opening B are formed in the end three parallel slots, in which one end of the plumb-lineE may be caught, as shown in Fig. 2. Adjacent this end a staple F is embedded in the sides of the level, the ends of the staple being turned inward, as shown in Fig. 5. The object of this staple is to prevent warping of the wood of which the level is made.

The level is provided with the usual brass corners.

The oval opening B has its lower wall cut away, forming a rectangular recess B opening upwardly into the opening B and of less length than said opening. The spirit-level is inclosed in a metallic tube C. This tube is adapted to hear at its ends on the lower wall of the opening B and has depending from it a rectangular web or blade G which extends into the recess B The web is perforated adjacent each end. In the recess B is arranged a plate C and this plate has adjacent each end two upwardly-projecting lugs C and the lugs are arranged in pairs and perforated. The web C rests between the lugs of each pair and is held in place bysuitable bolts or rivets which pass through the lugs and perforations of the web. On the top of each tube 0, adjacent one end of the sight-opening C formed in the tube, is secured by brazing or other means a U-shaped member C, the bow portion of which is bent upwardly slightly above the top of the tube. A curved shield C is shaped to fit over the opening C lying snugly on the metal tube C. The rear end of the shield is formed with rounded corners, and to this rear end is secured the ends of a spring-plate C the intermediate portion being bent around the bow portion of the U-shaped member C This hinges the shield to the metal tube C. The shield is formed with longitudinal outwardly-' extending flanges C", so that when closed down it can be readily grasped between the thumb and first finger and lifted no matter whether caught at the forwardend or adjacent the longitudinal center.

The parts immediately above described are duplicated in connection with the verticallyarranged level, as indicated at D. V s

It will be noted that I have a shield which will protect the glass of the tube C from dirt and from danger of breakage, which can be readily grasped between the fingers and lifted, and which when raised can be readily pressed down again. Where the plate O passes around the U-shaped member C it (the plate) bears on the tube C and by friction serves to hold the shield in the position in which it is adjusted. The plate, it will be noted, does not act as a spring.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. A level having a glass spirit-tube, a metallic tube inclosing said spirit-tube, a longitudinally-curved shield adapted to fit over said tube, said shield having its sides curved outward to form flanges, a U-shaped member secured on the metal tube, and a plate bent around the bow portion of said U shaped member and secured at the ends to one end of the shield.

2. The combination with a spirit-level, a metal tube incasing same, said tube being cut out on the top, a web on the under side of the metal tube, a plate having lugs in pairs, said V web extending between said lugs and adapted to be secured to same, a U-shaped member secured on the tube adjacent the opening and having its bow portion slightly elevated, a plate having its intermediate portion resting between the top of the metal tube and the bow of the U-shaped member, said plate having its ends bent upon themselves, a longitudinally-curved shield adapted to fit over the opening in the metal tube, said shield having its corners at the rear end rounded, the shield being rigidly secured at its rear end to the ends of the plate encircling the bow of the U-shaped member.

CHARLES H. CRAVEN.

Witnesses:

F. T. GORDON, GEO. MoCLnLLANn, 

